Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Fourie du Preez will be available and will be considered for the Springbok squad in two months’ time.
Springbok team manager Ian Schwartz has cleared up uncertainty over the situation of the scrumhalf who is earmarked to play a key role in coach Heyneke Meyer’s 2015 Rugby World Cup plans.
Although Du Preez, 33, has been back in South Africa since March when his season’s commitments to Japanese club Suntory ended, he did not attend the Springboks’ first training camp and is not playing any rugby.
Schwartz explained that because of Du Preez’s contractual obligations to Suntory, it is not permissible for him to be part of national practices – as is the case with other overseas-based players.
However, come the international season, which for the Springboks will start with a match against a World XV at Newlands on July 11, Du Preez will be free to be selected.
Meyer’s “rising son” is in regular contact with Springbok fitness coach Basil Carzis and, according to Schwartz, is “working very hard” to get into top shape.
Meyer likes Du Preez’s ability to conduct his preferred pattern and has twice brought him back into the Bok squad after long layoffs – for four Tests in 2013 and for three last year.
He was available for more games last season, but a damaged ankle ruled him out of the Rugby Championship and the end-of-year tour.
Although Schwartz was at pains to emphasise that Du Preez had not yet been selected, the Springbok management is targeting the World XV game to bring him back into action.
This is also the game Jean de Villiers is hoping to be ready for, but it is clear that Meyer will have no choice but to nurse some of his injured soldiers through the Rugby Championship in an effort to have them in peak condition for the World Cup.
In view of this, it might turn out that a strong Springbok bid to win the Rugby Championship is forfeited in the interests of claiming the Webb Ellis Cup.
The Rugby Championship kicks off on July 18 and the Boks’ last test in the truncated series will be on August 8.
A warm-up game has been organised in Buenos Aires on August 15 and the 31-man World Cup squad is due to be named on August 31.
